Machine for manufacturing peat fuel.



No. 878,732. PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908; R. A. KELLOND.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING PHAT FUEL.

I APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1 906.

a SHEETS-51mm 1.

PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908.

R. A KBLLOND.

' MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING PHAT FUEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAYJVIQOG.

' s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

:04, wAsnma-rau, u, c.

PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908.

, I R. A. KELLOND.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING PHAT FUEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1906.

a SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I I I v \l K I 47 UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

ROBERT A. KELLOND, OF WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA, ASSIGNOR. TO INTER-WEST PEAT FUEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA TERRITORY.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING PEAT FUEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1908.

Application filed May '7. 1906l Serial No. 315.530.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT ARTHUR KEL- LOND, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of the city of Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Peat Fuel, of Which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to machines for briqueting peat for fuel, and more especially to that class embodying horizontally-disposed forming or compressing instrumentalities such as male dies, or punches, operating in connection with female dies composed of tubes of the same diameter and open throughout their entire length.

r The particular objects of the present im provements are,-w hile producing a press equally adapted for operation upon wet, par tially-wet, or thoroughly dry peat,to simplify the details and arrangement of parts in connection with the compressing and feed devices, and to obviate the difliculties heretofore found in establishing the necessary resistance and proper feed action to insure the formation of evenly-dense briquets of approximately even size.

To these ends, my invention consists of a newly-designed die block, feed device, compressing instrumentalities and various details and combinations of parts, all of which I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accomp anying drawings, and will finally p oint out the novel features in the claims.

In the drawings, similar letters and figures of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1. is a plan view of a machine embodying my improvements, with two sets of forming devices. of the same, with parts broken away. Fig. 3. is a sectional elevation, enlarged, of the die block, and feeding and compressing mechanism. Fig.4. is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 represent enlarged details of a modification of the means for actuatingthe vertical-compression devices.

Promising that the machine is of the horizontal ram type, and that the feed and its auxiliary mechanism only are disposed vertically;A, represents the bed-frame, B, the driving shaft journaled therein close to the Fig. 2. is a side elevation floor line and carrying the driving pulleyb, pinion b and, by preference, two balance wheels b 6 one at or near each end, as shown in Fig. 1; this shaft extends cross-wise of the bed-frame.

O is the main shaft lying parallel to the driving shaft and finding bearings c, c, in the upper rear part of the bed-frame, upon one end of it being keyed the main driving gear 0 meshing with the pinion b and also carrying eccentrics c 0 set opposite to each other, for the operation of the punches 2, 2, the same being connected through the instrumentality of connecting rods 3, 3, and cross-heads 4, 4, working in proper guides 5, 5, upon the bed-frame A, 0 being a fly-wheel upon the end of the shaft C opposite to the gear.

The above is simply a preferred construction, and I lay no exclusive claim thereto. Such driving and power-applying mechanism may be modified and varied according to mechanical skill or judgment without affecting the essential principles or general operation of my improvements.

6, 6, are sprockets mounted upon the shaft O, preferably close to the eccentrics, as shown in Fig. 1. for communicating movement to the vertical-compression devices shortly to be described.

D is my improved die-block, made from. a single casting which includes two barrels (1,11, and a connecting bridge (1 all of which are hollow between their walls to permit of the circulation of steam, when heat is desired,- say in starting up the machine in cold weather,or cold water when it is necessary to reduce the heat caused by friction in the molds and to maintain a normal or even temperature therein, suitable inlets as, and

outlets 1 and pipe connections being pro-v vided for these purposes- This single casting also includes substantial bearings (1 (1 in alinement with and receiving the punches 2, 2, the vertical feed-hopper throats (Z d intervening, and the female dies or forming tubes (Z 0?, then being prolonged therefrom in alinement with the bearings and punches before named. The casting also includes side flanges (Z (Z adapted to rest upon and be bolted down to the bed-frame A. Suitable means for slight adjustment longitudinallyas elongated slots for bolts,'are also provided, The die-block D is further retained firmly in place,and the strain caused by the thrust of the punches and resistance of the material in the tubes during the operation of compressing compensated for,by the tie-rods T (two being shown) which pass longitudinally through the casting between the barrels d, d, immediately below the bridge d and in the same horizontal plane as the centers of the forming tubes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, said rods extending from the rear or discharge end of the dieblock forward to lugs a, a, upstanding from the surface of the bed-frame A, suitable heads and nuts being provided at the ends for tightening and adjustment.

The punches 2, 2, are always sustained in the bearings d in direct-and positive alinement and registration with the forming tubes (1 and the length of their stroke is from the point of junction of the bearings with and across the lower ends of the feedthroats d to the required distance within the forming-tubes. (Where the tubes and punches are three inches in diameter and a peat briquet of say two and one-half inches in thickness is intended to be made, the punches should enter the tubes about one inch, and the stroke of the eccentrics be eight inches.) The forming tubes are preferably of hard steel, and practically form sleeves which are driven into the central bores of the barrels d, of the die-block from front to rear, such tubes being of one piece so as to line the bearings (Z as well as to form the female dies proper, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. From the inner end of the bearing-portion to the inner end of the formingtube-portion, each sleeve is cut away for the uppermost half of its diameter, as shown at 6*, in Figs. 3 and 4, to permit the entrance of the raw material from the feed-throat (i (there being, of course, two of these latter in the die-block) such feed throat being rectangular, by preferance, and formed vertically in the die-block casting, its walls 7 being prolonged upwards from the top surface of such die-block, and provided with a flange 8, upon which is bolted a standing box 9 to afford a guide for a piston 10 which gives vertical compression to the material, as will be further explained. The box 9, feedthroat 61 and the opening 6 in the tube, register with each other.

The flange 8, rear wall of the feed throat LP, and the lower part of the box 9, are cut away so as to afiord a substantial sloping inlet 11, with which the spout or chute 12 leading from a suitable feed hopper 13 is in communication, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

The above construction is identical at both of the feed-throats and the spouts 12 are preferably joined to a common hopper located at a higher level, so that the feed of material may be continuous and contemporaneous in so far as concerns the keeping of the chutes full at all times while the machine is operating.

For clearness I will now describe only one of the vertical-compression devices, it being understood that similar arrangments are provided for each of the two feed-throats (1 The piston 10 is preferably box-shaped as shown, it being essential that at least one wall thereof, or that lying next to the inlet 11 should be of sufficient height betweento and bottom to entirely close said inlet w en the piston is at the lower end of its stroke. 14 is the piston rod passing loosely through the closed bottom and a top cross bar of the box-like piston, having a securing head or nut 15, at its lower end and threaded for a short distance above the top bar so as to receive a nut 16, between which nut and bar is a coiled spring 17. The upper end of the piston rod is secured to a cross-head 18, fitting into suitable guides 18 upon the inside of the box 9. Pivoted to this crosshead and extending upwards is a connecting rod 19 engaging also a crank pin 20 on a disk 21 mounted on a shaft 22 finding its bearings 23 in extensions from the upper ends of the boxes 9, as in Figs. 1, 3 and 4; centrally upon this shaft 22 18 mounted a sprocket 24. Parallel with this shaft and at a convenient point between it and the main shaft 0 is a supplementary shaft 25, having its bearings in standards 26 bolted to the bed-frame A at each side thereof. This shaft 25, by preference, carries three sprockets, that marked 27 being centrally disposed so as to be in line with the sprocket 24 on shaft 22, and those numbered 28, 28, being in alinement with the sprockets 6, 6, on the main shaft C, the whole being connected by linkbeltin as shown.

In t e modification, Figs. 5 and 6, in place of the crank-pin 20 I have shown the disk 21 as provided with a facial cam-groove 29, and the upper end of the connecting rod 19 as provided with a roller 30, engaging and adapted to travel in such cam-groove, the purpose of this arrangement being to insure that the piston 10 s all remain stationary at the lower end of its stroke a sufficient length of time for it to hold downunder compressionthe charge of material in the feed throat while the punch 2 is passing through it and carrying material for each briquet into the forming tube. This is an ordinary cam action which requires no further explanation to the mechanic, than to say that in Figs. 5 and 6, the connectin rod and roller are represented as lying at t e lowest part of the stroke, and that the division 31 of the cam is concentric with the shaft 22 and represents the time during which the piston raves retrogression of such piston contemporanefed liberally into the hopper 13, and the spouts 12 being kept constantly charged, and a first resistance block of wood or other suitable material having been placed in each of the mouths of the forming tubes d by reaching through a suitable hand-hole 12 in the spout near the inlets 11, power is applied to the driving shaft B, and through the pinion b gear 0 shaft 0 eccentrics c c connecting rods 3, 3, and crossheads 4, 4, horizontal motion is communicated to the punches 2, 2, one reciprocating with the other.

To avoid prolixity, I will now describe the operation of only one set of feed and verticalcompression devices, it being understood that Fig. 3 shows the punch and verticalcompression devices in the position they occupy at the time a briquet is made, and, Fig. 4 indicates the latter as situated while the feed of acharge of material is taking place. The bunch 2 being at the rear end of its stroke, t'. e. with its point just at the inner end of the bearing (1 leaving the space Z in the feed-throat d and that part of the forming-tube d lying immediately below, clear to be filled with raw peat from the chute 12 through the inlet 11, by gravity or forced feed from the main hopper 13,-the piston 10 will then be at the upper end of its stroke,

with its lower face clear of the upper edge of the inlet 11, and the cranks and sprockets being preferably so set and proportioned that the movement of the piston shall be slightly in advance of that of the punch, the downward movement of the piston 10 will close the inlet 11, cut off the feed, and compress or condense the raw material lying within the feed-throat d and the channel below in a vertical direction, into a more or less homogeneous mass varying with the density of the charge of material, while the punch 2 passes across and forces sufficient of the material into the forming-tube d to form a briquet against the briquetor briquets previously formed and not yet discharged from at the surfaces of the blocks, which gives to the briquets that external shiny coating or.

glaze (especially when. the material is fairly dry) which, with the above process of continuous formation of one briquet upon another, is well known in the art.

The operation, when the cam-grooved disk and roller-ended connecting rod shown in the modification Figs. 5 and 6, are used in place of the crank, is the same as that just described, save that by so constructing the cam arrangement that the piston will have a rapid up and down movement and a longer period of rest upon the material compressed beneath it while the punch passes through, there may be less liability of backward movement of the peat in the feed-throat and consequently all danger of the briquets being soft at their upper edges obviated.

The construction of the piston 10 and piston rod 14, and the combination therewith of the nuts 15 and 16, and spring 17, is in tended to obviate the danger which would result from any undue strain upon the crosshead and crank or cam connections, and which would be liable to occur should the piston, in finding the lower end of its stroke, encounter too heavy a charge, or a charge of peat of very dense nature, in the feed throat. In such a case, any unusual resistance to the full travel of the piston would be compensated for by the spring allowing the retrogression of the piston, and immediately upon the latter being freed from obstruction would restore same to its normal position in relation to the piston rod, as will be readily comprehended from the detailed description and drawings.

While I have herein described and illustrated what I esteem to be the most desirable forms of construction and arrangement of parts and devices for attaining the objects in view, it must be understood that I do not limit myself thereto, as the same may be varied, and equivalents and other devices adopted, without departing from the essential principles or sacrificing the advantages of my invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent-is as follows v 1. The die-block herein described, consisting, essentially, of a single casting embodying double barrels, as d, (1, having horizontally and centrally-disposed therein female dies or'forming tubes, as d, d ,connecting bridge, as (1, said barrels and bridge having intercommunicating spaces between their walls, with inlets and outlets,bearings as d (P, in alinement with said formingtubes, and vertically-disposed feed-throats, as d (1 located between said bearings and said throats,substantially as and for the pur pose set forth.

2. The combination with the bed-frame having the lugs, as a, a, and With the dieb10ck composed of barrels d, d, and connecting bridge (Z and suitable supporting extensions resting upon said bed-frame, of the tierods T, passing through the material of the die-block underneath the connecting bridge,

10 and through the lugs on the bed-frame, and

heads and nuts at the ends of said tie-rods for adjustably-securing the die-block, substantially as set forth.

Signed at Winnipeg, Manitoba, this 26th day of April, 1906.

ROBT A. KELLOND.

Witnesses:

J. PURKIs SHARPE, WM. M. MACAW 

